Blues 2020

Daffy Jaffy

@KiwiMurph I saw Namoa on Sky's coverage of the recent Red Bull ignite sevens so he is fit and playing. Maybe he will turn out for Auckland at the national sevens on Dec. 14/15.

KiwiMurph

Preseason
Blues v Hurricanes
Friday 24 January
3pm.
$10 for adults and free for kids.
Onewa Domain
All proceeds go to Takapuna RFC

Duluth

@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:

Going by the Blues latest video the main leadership group is

Patrick Tuipulotu (captain)
James Parsons
Rieko Ioane
Tom Robinson

So a demotion for Gibson - from co-captain to outside the leadership group

You can't trust his durability unfortunately

I suspect that means a first choice trio of Papali'i/Ioane/Robinson too. I think Papali'i is the best 6 in NZ but at 7 he seems to get the judgment calls wrong.

That's a physical trio though. Gibson and a specialist lock on the bench?

gt12

@Duluth said in Blues 2020:

@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:

Going by the Blues latest video the main leadership group is

Patrick Tuipulotu (captain)
James Parsons
Rieko Ioane
Tom Robinson

So a demotion for Gibson - from co-captain to outside the leadership group

You can't trust his durability unfortunately

I suspect that means a first choice trio of Papali'i/Ioane/Robinson too. I think Papali'i is the best 6 in NZ but at 7 he seems to get the judgment calls wrong.

That's a physical trio though. Gibson and a specialist lock on the bench?

I still think that Paps is the future at 7/6 off the bench (starting at 6/7 depending on Ardie) so him getting time at 7 makes me happy. He could be a bigger Cane and that’s a pretty good thing if he can pull it off.

Daffy Jaffy

Pre-Season Fixture:
Gallagher Chiefs vs. Blues
Date: Friday 17 January
Time: 3.00pm kick-off, 1.30pm gates open
Venue: Waihi Athletic Rugby Club, Waihi

A 3pm kickoff in the middle of January will test those fitness levels.
It's crazy to think these teams will be back playing six weeks from now.

nzzp

@Daffy-Jaffy I know, was thinking about that.

Probably not taking a season ticket this year. Starts too early, too many family clashes, despite the earlier kickoffs. Will just rock up on an 'ad hoc' basis.

Edit: I broke and picked up a BLues pass for me and the boy. Great value, and if I get to 3 games it's worth it. They throw ina free junior, so well well worth it.

Bovidae

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:

Pre-Season Fixture:
Gallagher Chiefs vs. Blues
Date: Friday 17 January
Time: 3.00pm kick-off, 1.30pm gates open
Venue: Waihi Athletic Rugby Club, Waihi

A 3pm kickoff in the middle of January will test those fitness levels.

All these preseason games are played during the day so the conditions will be challenging. I went to the Chiefs-Blues game in Te Kuiti in 2018, and it was hot enough being in the crowd.

Tim

Open Team Training.
Skills & Hills.
Friday 6th Dec @ Monte Cecilia Park,
10:45-11:45am.

Open Team Training
Skills Session.
Friday 13th Dec @ Victoria Park,
10:30-11:30am.

Nogusta

@Daffy-Jaffy Taufa Funaki is with the Blues (on an ITC) but thats not him in the dreads. Thats Soane Vikena. MAGS/NZ20s hooker who along with Zarn Sullivan mst be the ITCs this year. Luteru Tolai is trainig pre-season with the Blues as well.

Daffy Jaffy

nzzp

@Daffy-Jaffy superb part of the world, Cornwall Park. Would have loved to pop down and see them

taniwharugby

@Daffy-Jaffy watching those kinds of clips make me think about doing some exercise...then I remember beer and my enthusiasm fades.

Tim

Is Emoni Narawa NZ qualified yet?

Machpants

Could also help with the team o the decade list

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/super-rugby-teams-of-the-decade-the-blues-xv-that-starred-over-the-last-10-years/

Dice

@Machpants They got the pack almost spot on, but the backline needs a bit of work.

Mathewson over Pulu at halfback. His first season or so was easily the best play we got from a halfback in the last decade.

I'd probably go with Wulf on the right wing over Halai, even though he did play quite a bit of left wing. Rarely ever had a bad game for us and was always an automatic starter.

Toeava was probably our best 15, 13 and 12, but didn't even get in the team.:man_facepalming:

Number 10

@Tim said in Blues 2020:

Is Emoni Narawa NZ qualified yet?

Probably some time in 2020 as he did not arrive in the country until 2017.

Machpants

@Number-10 said in Blues 2020:

@Tim said in Blues 2020:

Is Emoni Narawa NZ qualified yet?

Probably some time in 2020 as he did not arrive in the country until 2017.

Five years now, so 2022

Stargazer

@Number-10 Probably the end of 2020. IIRC he left Hamilton Boys at the end of 2017. The time at school will not count for the residency period, unless he came here with his parents/family. Same situation as Folau Fakatava.

Stargazer

@Machpants Until 31 December 2020, it's still 3 years, so he (and Fakatava) still fall under the old rule. Just.

Machpants

@Stargazer only if they play before then, right?

They have lived in the country for 60 consecutive months (Five years) to qualify on residency immediately before playing.

That comes into play next year, if you don't play this year, you're on the 5 year plan. Welsh Willis, will have too wait another 2 years because of his injury, for example. No one's pointed this out but it is what the laws say

The Silver Fern

Blues 2020